bāls

Latvian

Etymology

Originally a parallel form to an older adjective *bals (which disappeared probably because of homophony with balss “voice,” but left related terms like the verbs balot, balēt “to bleach, to fade,” balināt “to whiten, to blanch”), from the same source as the adjective balts (“white”) (q.v.). Note that the long/short parallel forms apparently reflect an older state of affairs: alongside Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- (“shiny, white”), the source of *bals and balts, there was also *bʰa- (< *bʰeh₂-), from which Proto-Baltic *bāl- and Latvian bāls. The original meaning was probably wider (closer to “white”), but the co-existence with balts restricted it to its current range.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key):

Adjective

bāls (definite bālais, comparative bālāks, superlative visbālākais, adverb bāli)

1. (of people) pale (with lighter, whiter color on the face or skin than normal; without redness; also, implicitly, unhealthy)

   slimniekam ir bāla seja ― the patient has a pale face

   bāls kā audekls, krīts, drēbe, līķis, nāve ― pale like a canvas, chalk, cloth, a corpse, death (= very pale)

   bērns auga, bija bāls kā pagrabā uzdīdzis stāds ― the boy grew, he was pale as a plant grown in the basement

   spoguli paskatījies, viņš vairs nepazina sevi: bāls, kā no slimības gultas piecēlies cilvēks iekritušām acīm raudzījās viņam pretim... tā cilvēka vaigos vairs nebija sārtuma ― looking at the mirror, he could not recognize himself anymore: a person pale as one who stood up from a sick bed, with hollow eyes, looked at him... on that person's cheeks there was no redness

2. pale, light (not having brightness, not having bright colors)

   bāli pelēki mākoņi ― pale gray clouds

   kombinēt spilgtas un bālas krāsas ― to combine bright and pale colors

   mazas puķītes ar bāliem ziediem ― small plants with pale flowers

   aiz loga stāv bālā miglas siena ― standing outside the window was the pale wall of fog

3. pale, dim, dull, faint (without brightness)

   bāls mēness ― the pale moon

   platā, zemā maizes krāsnī vēl gailējas bālas aizkura ogles ― in the wide, low bread oven some pale (= faint) kindling coal

   mākoņu spraugās šur un tur iemirgojās bālas zvaigznes ― in the cracks in the clouds here and there (a few) pale (= faint) stars shone

4. (usually of works of art) weak, poor, not interesting (without bright, interesting features)

   loma ir neizstrādāta, bāla ― the role is undeveloped, pale (= weak)

   bālas un nenozīmīgas romāna nodaļas ― pale (= weak) and insignificant novel chapters

   pirmajās izrādēs vēl ir bālas un sasteigtas vietas ― in the first performances there still are pale (= weak) and premature places (= parts)

   dzejolis ir bāls un nekā jauna lasītājam nedod ― the verse is pale (= weak) and gives nothing new to the reader

Declension

Synonyms

• (of "pale, light"): gaišs
• (of "dim, dull, faint"): blāvs, krēslains

Derived terms

• bālā mušmire
• balēt, bālēt, balot
• bālgans
• bālums

References